the president of syria. and he assures them that there's no use intended and it is not a problem and, so, you kind of have two messages coming from the russians but you would have to say they're very much opposed to that and a lot of concern. >> so do they then -- do the russians believe assad when he assures them that he won't? and, are there new sign that is the russians might be waivering in their support of assad? >> reporter: you know, it's thoohard to say whether they believe it. you have to say at least on the surface they're saying we are taking him at his word that he wouldn't use them. and they also say, president putin said, there's no way that syria is going to attack other countries, specifically turkey. because they're in enough of a problem with their internal conflict. but, you know, i do think that the very interesting development, brooke, is that it appear that is the russians really are now moving toward re-evaluating that idea, that assad can survive. and you just have to look at what is